hello today we're going to talk fish

i'll start by linking two fantastic sources: seriously fish and the r/bettafish wiki. trust me, they know their shit.

anyway, chances are when you were a kid (IF you were ever a kid!!) you had a pet fish. i'm talking about bettas today, but goldfish got a similar treatment, as do hamsters—but yes. you had a fish, and you kept it in a bowl.

you didn't know it at the time, but that really isn't how fish should be kept.

bettas need at least five gallon tanks; just because they can survive in tupperware at the pet store doesn't mean they will thrive there. and survive is pushing it. they need space to swim—bettas are so curious and love to explore!—a heater, as they originate from warmer climates, and a filter; many people recommend sponge filters, and now that's what i use, too. a ten gallon tank is actually even more ideal, because it's easier to keep safer water parameters when... there's more water.

speaking of, water parameters. did you know about tank cycling? i didn't! and then i sure did a lot of reading on that! tank cycling is a process that takes place, ideally, maybe months before you get your fish. it requires breaking down waste in the tank into ammonia, then to nitrites, which turn into nitrates. it's important, because fish sure do be poopers. /r/aquariums links to this which is a great breakdown of the process AND has a calculator so you don't have to pull math of your brain. if you've already got your fish, though, you're stuck doing a fish-in-cycle which is much more difficult and time-consuming... but it is possible, if you ended up with a fish and then heard about cycling after.

ah and speaking of water paramters, dropping some money on the API master test kit is really the best way to go. strips aren't nearly as exact, and should really only be used to make sure the water is consistent. this test kit can be pricey, but it's worth it IMO and lasts a long time.

i want to talk decor, too. take care when choosing things for your aquarium: for starters, they have to be cool as hell (i like skulls! get some skulls!) and for bettas, they need to be smoothed. plastic plants are rarely good for fish unless they're silk, because their fins are very delicate and can get torn easily. driftwood is great, but it's a pain in the butt to sink (if you're me, where my water boiling skills are bad) but damn does it look awesome and it's good for the fish. it will turn your water a different colour though. that's normal and also good for the fish. google tannins.

i'm not a fish expert though please click those links and listen to them and triple check everything because maybe i'm wrong. but they should still be in bigger tanks. i'm right about that.

lastly it's time to shame some bad tanks because i feel like it.

BAD TANKS THAT SHOULD FEEL BAD

BAD i don't have to tell you that """"""tanks""""" where a fish can't even turn around are bad.


amazon's choice. lmfao. fuck off.


THIS JUST IN: BETTAS DON'T NEED TO SWIM!!! STATIONARY FISH!!! fuck off


btw it's better to get a tank that's a rectangle shape because bettas breathe air by taking huge gulps of it at the surface. this isn't that tall but it still sucks because it's small. it just reminded me of that fact.


a 1.5g is still too small do better tetra!!


it's like the fish is an accessory to the plant here. begone


please don't lego your fish


don't PUT IT OUTSIDE OH MY GODDDD don't buy it in general either


i have anxiety